1995 was a historic year in weather. First it is when weather patterns changed. The Atlantic ASO went from negative to positive setting up the second Active Phase in the Atlantic 1995-Present. Second, it was the start as a Meteorologist that tornado activity begin to shift eastward. Indeed, 1995 is when Dixie Alley started to get more tornadoes. Dixie Alley is a tornado alley that occurs in the south. It includes the states Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky.

From May 10th-18th A series of outbreaks impacted the lower plains, Dixie Alley states, and Ohio River Valleys. This outbreak was later dubbed the May Outbreak Sequence.

The Jet stream started to shift northward following a developing La Nina. Also the Gulf started to have above average water temperatures providing moisture and heat as fuel for the storm systems.

On May 10th the first storm system moved into the Lower Plains and Dixie Alley. Ahead of this storm system was very warm air with temps in the 80's, which is not uncommon for some places in May. Behind this one was cold air aloft. There was strong winds blasting out of the Rockies. All the ingredients came together to produce the first tornado outbreak of this 3 event series.

On May 9th severe storms developed in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. These storms produced a few tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds. However, on May 10th the storm system moved into Dixie Alley. Ingredients were more favorable for all modes of severe weather other the states of Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia.

Earlier on May 10th the storms started out as individual super cells producing tornadoes, damaging winds, and hail. As the day progressed the storms started to become linear and push eastward. The storms formed a potent squall line. This Squall line not only had thunderstorms with 60-80 mph winds in it but it also continued to produce tornadoes. Kentucky and Tennessee was hit hard with severe damaging straight line winds, and tornadoes. Overall, 44 tornadoes occurred.

ON May 14th another front moved over the same area. Ahead of this front thunderstorms developed from Illinois to Louisiana and begin to move eastward. Once again the storms gained strength as they moved eastward. The line of storms produced damaging winds up to 70 mph and even a few tornadoes. A total of 17 tornadoes were confirmed.

May 18th was the worst day of this sequence. A storm system moved up from the Gulf. This storm system had very strong winds creating spin in the atmosphere and wind shear. Then with temps in the 70's and 80's ahead of it. The storm system started to deepen. It did not take long for severe storms to develop earlier in the day. More storms began to develop in the evening and produce more tornadoes. Tornadoes also continued into the night.

The states of Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia were hit hard on May 18th. A total of 83 tornadoes touched down. A lot of the tornadoes were EF2 or higher type tornadoes.

These three events alone produced 144 tornadoes mostly over the same areas. May 1995 was a very active month for tornadoes as there was several outbreaks in May. These 3 events are personal for me because I remember them very well. These three events hit my area very hard.

On May 10th near my area we had 3 tornadoes touch down, and lots of straight line winds. On May 14th, we had a lot of straight line wind damage in my area as some of the winds were estimated to be 70 mph.

May 18th was field day at my school I attended as it was a way for the school year to wind down as we only had a few more days of school left. Storms developed in the day and we had to go to our shelters. But that night was worth in my area. We had a total of 6 tornadoes touch down, numerous storms producing 70-80 mph damaging winds and large hail. While I was at home me and my parents had to to go our shelter twice as there was a tornado that touched down in the neighboring county and was moving eastward. The second time a funnel was spotted not to far from our house, but it did not touch down.

The 3 day event was historic for several reasons. First it produced 144 tornadoes in less than a week time frame. Second, it was the start of something bigger in Dixie Alley. Speaking of Dixie Alley as a Meteorologist I often look back at this event and like others believe this was when a huge pattern change and shift occurred in severe weather.